Talk:DYK

Please vote or nominate interesting facts for the Harry Potter Wiki 'Did You Know?'. Promoted DYKs will be added here and displayed on the main page. Rejected facts will be removed but can be resubmitted. For past DYKs, please see the Archive. For all new nominations please add them to the bottom of the list and follow the template given by the other nominations.

Please note: only qualified users with more than 20 article (not talk-page nor user space) edits may vote for Did You Knows. All votes from unqualified users will be struck in accordance with policy.

Contents

Meta-discussion

I think this page should be culled, as it's getting rather long. I was a bit reluctant to add the DYK I added earlier today because of this. Perhaps some of the older ones that have been here three years or longer, and aren't likely to garner any more votes, should be moved to the Archives? — RobertATfm (talk) 21:01, July 8, 2013 (UTC)

Comments

(I didn't know this until I started editing the Wiki, the films depict them in their late 20s to early 30s.)

Doesn't that make Snape 21-22? And I'm sure Voldemort and Bellatrix were 'friends' in their school years, but Voldemort is at least 50 (Chamber of Secrets being opened 50 years before Harry's second year and Hagrid was in school and was a couple of years older than Tom) but Bellatrix looks a tad younger than the two...

Rupert (-1)

...that when Slughorn kept saying Ron's name wrong, he actually called him Rupert, the name of the actor who played Ron?

Comments

This is not suprising. As Sirius Black said " The pure blood families are all inter-related. If you only let you children marry pure bloods your choice is very limited. There are hardly any of us left. Molly and I are cousins by marriage and Arthur is something like my second cousin once removed."

Willy Widdershins (+1)

...Willy Widdershins was pardoned by the Ministry of Magic for baiting Muggles with regurgitating toilets because he turned Harry in to Umbridge ?

Against

Why do people post things that are easily spotted, common knowledge, or stated in the book. Hermione says it in the Goblet of Fire. People, tell us something we don't know! Cubhicbu 11:52, June 23, 2010 (UTC)

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Someone do us a favor and get rid of the line in the middle of the user in For. he is now a registered user --Bongo2009Talk 11:38, 14 August 2009 (UTC)

Voting policy says that users must be registered AND have at least 20 article edits (meaning not counting user page, talk page, and forum edits) before they can vote. Once they become elligible, the strike can be removed. - Nick O'Demus 11:48, 14 August 2009 (UTC)

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Subtract 9 months from when Walburga was born and this means Pollux must have been around twelve-years-old when his wife (Were they even married?) conceived. 24.170.248.198 00:28, 17 August 2009 (UTC)

Technically, he could have even been eleven depending on what month he was born. Way too young for any wizard to be having sex! Unless Wizards procreate differently? 24.49.35.99 05:55, December 30, 2009 (UTC)

Wizards are still human. Other wise, how could Muggles have magical children. They procreate just the same. QueenSno 12:19, August 15, 2011 (UTC)

Burned Curtains (+0)

...that Dumbledore once set fire to the curtains in the Gryffindor Boy's Dormitory during his Fourth year at Hogwarts (by accident, of course)?

Support

I knew that, but i still like it--Tenerezza 03:59, December 25, 2009 (UTC)

Pretty much everyone knows that! It's not news if you've watched the films and only geeks who have read and seen all the Harry Potters are gonna be logged on to the wiki! MinervaPotter 12:26 January 14, 2012

Against

This is only in the films. I don't recall him mentioning it in the books. 24.49.35.99 05:50, December 30, 2009 (UTC)

Comments

ahh, everyone says this but it is only partialy right, this may sound nuts but it was the elder wand voldemort was holding that killed himself, harry did priori incantarto but it was only for a split second because voldemorts curse rebounded off harrys.

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Reason why I put this down for consideration is how aside from the COS, GOF, and DH is that even though Harry played in Quidditch matches that season he only played in the Quidditch final in POA, which ironically is also the only time he helped Gyriffindor win the Quidditch Cup, both of which I generally remind myself of since I noticed this fact after reading that book and figuring it out when comparing it to the other books. Therefore this is something only an experienced reader can figure out and should be noted since it is a noteworthy trend that affects that is present throughout the entire series. -Adv193 04:20, November 6, 2009 (UTC)

Of course! That's why in the 3rd book there was such mania in the Gryffindor team about winning the Cup. Everyone thought that they should have won it every year and each year something had gone wrong. Wood says in a training session "This is our last chance, my last chance to win the Cup. Ever since Harry's come on the team I'd thought it's been in the bag. But we haven't got it."

Cho and Harry in Quidditch (+0)

...that Harry only played against Cho Chang once, in his third year?

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He only played against her during his third year. There's no Quidditch matches in his fourth year; he was banned from Quidditch during his fifth year; he was under detention during his sixth year; and in his seventh year, they were in their last year and Harry wasn't in school at all. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Tenerezza (talk • contribs).

Neville's birthday (-1)

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You should ave put it in better terms. Like add a litte something about you know who. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 76.68.60.40 (talk • contribs).

That's why the prophecy that is made could have applied to either Harry or Neville. They both had parents who had fought against Voldemort, they were both born at the end of July, etc. Although I guess we can quite easily forget it.

Comments

Hufflepuff common room (+0)

...that the Hufflepuff's common room is located near the kitchens because Helga Hufflepuff was particularly famous for her dexterity with food-related Charms?

Support

I support this Did-You-Know. Jamie Quest 12:12, January 17, 2010 (UTC)

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It is also the only common room that has a defence mechanism if you get the pass procedure (tickling an object on the painting )wrong. It squirts foul smelling liquid into your face.

Thats the kitchens!! for hufflepuff common room you have to tap the right barrel to the tune of 'helga hufflepuff' out of a stack of barrels and you get vinegar squirted in your face if you tap the wrong barrel or tap it in correctly.

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The quill records it in a book, which sits on Proffessor McGonagall's desk. This probably a duty of the deputy headmaster/headmistress. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 66.229.102.116 (talk • contribs).

Christmas pantomime (-1)

...that there is a blanket ban on any pantomimes, because one year Herbert Beery, the school's Herbology professor, proposed an adaptation of the children's tale, The Fountain of Fair Fortune, and it went so wrong that an enlarged Ashwinder exploded, filling the Great Hall with smoke and fragments of scenery. Also, two of the actors started a fierce duel, hexing one of the teachers, and the night ended in a packed Hospital wing.

Holyhead Harpies (+1)

Support

I feel like a lot of people know this, but to the average reader it's interesting. KristiannaEl 18:56, February 18, 2010 (UTC) You could add the fact---all of the girls names on the team start with the letter "G"--- to make it more interesting.

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According to the Support, that also includes Ginny. :D

I think it says so in Quidditch Through The Ages.Luna Lovegood 23:18, December 9, 2010 (UTC)

Hermione's Magic (-1)

..that Hermione Granger used magic before even getting on the train to Hogwarts, but didn't get in trouble with the Ministry of Magic?

Support

Yeah I was wondering about that. Isn't it like you can't use magic outside of Hogwarts unless you are given permission to? Elite-Nachos 22:26, April 7, 2010 (UTC)

Comments

Hermione wasn't outside of school while she used magic as she hadn't started at Hogwarts yet the rule is dat underage wizards aren't allowed 2 use magic outside school and if da ministry did find out they would think it was just a sign of her powers

Hermione probably didn't know about the rule because she didn't go to Hogwarts yet so the ministry might of just let it slide. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 75.87.80.78 (talk • contribs).

She was probably around adult wizards and witches. The spell that makes it so they MoM can tell when an underage witch or wizard uses magic outside of school only detects magic, not the user. So, one could aruge that the Weasley kids could spend their entire summer doing magic around their parents and never get in trouble. However, this rule is more than likely inforced by parents. QueenSno 12:30, August 15, 2011 (UTC)

She also admitted to using magic at home around her Muggle parents,"Of course, I've only done a few simple spells, but they've all worked for me".

Young Severus says to Young Lily that using magic outside of school before you go to Hogwarts is perfectly acceptable.

The Marauders (-1)

...that the Marauders (Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs) all died before the end of the second wizarding war?

Patricide (-2)

... that Voldemort murdered his own father when he was only sixteen years old?

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Oppose

NO. It is super-obvious, and boring. People should stop nominating clearly said stuff or basic logic on the books that is obvious. How about something easy to miss, or new or something... Ferbot 00:38, November 3, 2010 (UTC)

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Dumbledore's homosexuality (-2)

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Oppose

I cant believe this was allowed on the wikia! First, that is not in the books. Second, there is nothing wrong with homosexuality. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 81.101.204.9 (talk • contribs).

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Who wouldn't LOVE to play Dumbledore?! The best character ever written! I'm glad his grand-daughter put her foot down.

First Kiss (+0)

...that Hermione Granger was the youngest of the Trio to receive a kiss, in her fourth year with Viktor Krum, followed by Harry in his fifth year with Cho Chang, and Ron Weasley in his sixth year with Lavender Brown?

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I'm not sure this is true. Hermione's birthday is 19 September, so she was nearly 12 when she started at Hogwarts, and was 15 (and three months) at the Yule Ball. I think Emma Watson was the youngest of the actors who played the Trio, but of the actual Trio, Hermione was the oldest. — RobertATfm (talk) 09:54, February 22, 2013 (UTC)

Comments

"Who Am I?" (+2)

Support

Dont you wonder Why Lily and James Potter never thought of disapparating from the house in Godric Hallow with Harry while Lord Voldemorte enters there.122.174.172.111 13:00, September 24, 2011 (UTC)Needujaris122.174.172.111 13:00, September 24, 2011 (UTC) 12:56, September 24, 2011 (UTC) Needujaris

after the credits of the second film they show a window in Diagon Alley with a new book by Gilderoy Lockhart named "Who Am I?" 108.60.177.156 03:54, September 28, 2011 (UTC)Chucktonio

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The Potions Master(-2)

...that when Snape questioned Harry in his first ever potions lesson, he was really saying something else? "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Aspodel is a type of Lily and in Victorian times, they would send flowers to convey messages. If you sent a Lily it meant ' my regrets follow you to the grave'. Wormwood means ' bitter sorrow'. Put them together and you land up with 'I bitterly regret Lily's death'.

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So Bitter Yet So Sweet. The most beautiful and touching moment in literature that I have ever read. If Snape hadn't asked Voldemort to spare lily's life, then her death wouldn't have been a sacrafice. therefore, Harry would have died and there would be no Harry Potter. Snape is a hero. RIP.

Oppose

It was never confirmed whether he meant that. Ideas twist to fit facts, not the other way around. -- Seth Cooperowl post! 19:46, January 10, 2012 (UTC)

Comments

Flashback bricks (-1)

...that during the flashback in the Pensieve where Dumbledore first meets Tom Riddle, there are seven rocks on the windowsill?

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Oppose

Not that great of a discovery, that was precisely the point in the rocks: that Riddle's childhood trophies were seven (so were, later, his Horcruxes). Anyway, OoU. -- Seth Cooperowl post! 19:51, January 10, 2012 (UTC)

Comments

Older actors (-1)

...that the actress who plays Minerva McGonagall (Maggie Smith) is older than the actor who plays Dumbledore (Michael Gambon)?

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According to one source (sadly I've forgotten what), although the above is the literal meaning, the intended (metaphorical) meaning is "Let sleeping dragons lie", a play on the real-world proverb "Let sleeping dogs lie". — RobertATfm (talk) 09:32, February 22, 2013 (UTC)

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It's taken from the GBA version of Philosopher's Stone. One NPC says this to Harry, and goes on to add that rumour has it Dirgah is what it's hidden in the Forbidden Corridor because Dumbledore did not know any other way to get rid of him. -- Seth Cooperowl post! 02:38, February 23, 2013 (UTC)

Fenrir Greyback's tactics (-2)

...Fenrir Greyback's tactic to be surrounded by potential victims when it's full moon, is similar to the tactics used by the French werewolves in "An American Werewolf in Paris", a movie of 1997. (The difference is: Greyback does this with the goal to create more werewolves, the French werewolves does it simply for the food and the joy of killing.)

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Ernie, Hannah and Justin (-1)

...that the trio formed by Ernie, Hannah and Justin was quite similar to the trio formed by Harry, Ron and Hermione? Both trios are made up by member each having a different Blood Status: Pure-blood (Ernie and Ron), half-blood (Hannah and Harry), and Muggle-born (Justin and Hermione).

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Hufflepuff Common Room exclusivity (+1)

....that because the security of Hufflepuff Common Room is so good, in the thousand-odd years of Hogwarts' existence, only Hufflepuffs and house-elves have set foot in it? It is unique in this respect.